May 2012 Press Releases
May 31, 2012 - Gil-Cruz
Federal Jury Convicts Cuban of Importing Crystal Meth
McALLEN, Texas – Alexander Lorenzo Gil-Cruz, 39, a Cuban national, has been found guilty on two counts related to the importation of crystal methamphetamine read more
May 31, 2012 - Lahiji
McAllen Urologist and Wife Charged with Health Care Fraud
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned a three-count, superseding indictment against Dr. Hossein Lahiji and his wife, attorney Najmeh Vahid Lahiji, both of McAllen and San Antonio, Texas read more
May 31, 2012 - Sparks
Harlingen Man Convicted in Bank Fraud Scheme
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Curtis Sparks, of Harlingen, Texas, has pleaded guilty to defrauding USAA Federal Savings Bank in a scheme that lasted several months and netted him hundreds of thousands of dollars read more
May 31, 2012 - Ramos and Hernandez-Juarez
Two Arkansas Residents Indicted for Transporting Methamphetamine
HOUSTON - Two residents of Judsonia, Ark., have been charged in a two-count indictment with conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute 12.5 kilograms of methamphetamine read more
May 30, 2012 - Cruz
Edinburg Man Handed 20 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - Raul Cruz, of Edinburg, Texas, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and money laundering conspiracy read more
May 29, 2012 - Soto
Inmate Sentenced for Threatening to Assault Detention Center Guard
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Richard Soto, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been sentenced to 52 months for threatening to assault an officer of the Coastal Bend Detention Center as well as the officer’s 11-year-old daughter read more
May 25, 2012 - Parsons
Former Alarms Systems Salesman Sentenced for Receipt of Child Pornography
Houston – Douglas Bruce Parsons, 64, has been handed a 90-month federal prison sentence for his conviction on one count of receipt of child pornography read more
May 25, 2012 - Okehie
Medicare Fraud Lands Area Chiropractor in Prison
HOUSTON - Justina Okehie aka Dr. Tina Collins, of Richmond, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme read more
May 25, 2012 - Silva et al
Sheriff’s Deputy and Convicted Felons Arrested in Relation to Drug Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – A deputy sheriff from Duval County, Texas, has been arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine read more
May 25, 2012 - Pena
CBP Officer Arrested for Lying to Buy Firearms
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Manuel Eduardo Pena, 38, has been arrested and charged with straw purchasing firearms read more
May 25, 2012 - Gamez and Herrera
Bank Robbers Head to Federal Prison
McALLEN, Texas – Victor Gamez, 33, of Alamo, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for carjacking a victim and then robbing a Weslaco Credit Union read more
May 24, 2012 - Garcia
Raza Unida Gang Member Gets Life in Meth Trafficking Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Orlando Garcia, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been sentenced to life in federal prison following his conviction of drug trafficking in a conspiracy that involved gang leadership both inside and outside of the Texas prison system read more
May 24, 2012 - Olmedo et al
Several Sentenced in Multi-Year Alien Smuggling Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Six people have been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens read more
May 24, 2012 - Perez
Houston Man Hit with Hefty Federal Time for Multiple Child Exploitation Charges
HOUSTON – Jorge Juan Perez, a 29-year-old Houston man, has been ordered to serve 292 months in federal prison for transferring obscene material to a minor, coercing and enticing a minor as well as possessing child pornography read more
May 24, 2012 - Gibson and Edem
Houston Area Physician and Local Business Man Charged in Diagnostic Testing Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON - Dr. Donald Gibson II, 56, of Sugarland, Texas, and Sunday Joseph Edem, 53, of Richmond, Texas, have been arrested for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud relating medically unnecessary diagnostic testing and physical therapy read more
May 24, 2012 - Bujol
Texas Man Gets Max for Attempting to Provide Material Support to Al Qaeda
HOUSTON – Barry Walter Bujol Jr., a 30-year-old Hempstead, Texas, resident and former student at Prairie View A&M University, will now serve 20 years in federal prison read more
May 24, 2012 - Alanis
Brownsville Mother and Daughter-in-Law Handed Sentences in Health Care Fraud Scheme
McALLEN, Texas - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 51, and her daughter-in-law Erika Ortega Alanis, 27, both of Brownsville, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to defraud the Texas Medicaid program read more
May 23, 2012 - Perez
Mexican National Sentenced for Moving 600 Lbs. of Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas – Joel Hugo Robles Perez, 25, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of possessing nearly 600 pounds of marijuana intended for distribution read more
May 23, 2012 - Reyes
Dallas Woman Heads to Federal Prison in Marijuana Conspiracy
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Rhonda Raquel Reyes, 29, of Dallas, Texas, has landed in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana read more
May 23, 2012 - Moya and Gonzalez
Two More Handed Sentences in "Operation Dirty Dozen"
McALLEN, Texas – Two more men, both of Roma, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large scale drug trafficking organization operating out of Starr County, Texas read more
May 23, 2012 - Puente-Paez
Peñitas Man Handed Sentence for Trafficking Firearms, Ammunition and Military Vests
McALLEN, Texas – Juan Ricardo Puente-Paez, a legal permanent resident alien residing in Peñitas, Texas, has been sentenced to 95 months in federal prison for the trafficking of firearms, ammunition and military vests as a result of an investigation that began in May 2010 read more
May 23, 2012 - Romanos
Laredo Man Heads to Prison for Child Pornography Conviction
LAREDO, Texas - Sergio Javier Romanos, 22, of Laredo, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for possession of child pornography read more
May 23, 2012 - Soto and Gardunio
Operators of “Welcome to Hell” Stash House Admit Their Guilt
McALLEN, Texas - Vicente Ortiz-Soto and Marcial Salas-Gardunio, both 23 and Mexican nationals, have pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to harbor aliens read more
May 22, 2012 - Cano
Mexican Businessman Indicted for Alleged Money Laundering and Bank Fraud
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Mexican businessman from Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been indicted as a result of the efforts of a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation read more
May 22, 2012 - Cantu et al
Federal Prison for Three in Alien Smuggling Scheme that Resulted in the Death of Innocent Woman
Victim killed after SUV with smugglers and illegal aliens crashed into home
CORPUS CHRISTI – Romeo Cantu and Marcos Adrian, both of Falfurrias, Texas, and Evarardo Hernandez-Salazar, a Mexican National, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in an alien smuggling scheme that resulted in the death of a 70-year-old woman in her home read more
May 22, 2012 - Dial
Houston Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud
300+ victims submit statements to the court
HOUSTON – A Houston businessman has been sentenced for conspiring to commit wire fraud read more
May 21, 2012 - Hedrick
Hedrick Found Guilty
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Brownsville jury has returned its verdicts in the case of Robert L. Hedrick, 60, for attempted sexual exploitation of children, transfer of obscene materials to a minor, distribution and possession of child pornography read more
May 21, 2012 - Martin
Portland Man Lands in Prison for Attempted Solicitation of a Minor
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Bryan Martin, 40, of Portland, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for using a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, specifically a telephone and a computer connected to the Internet, in an attempt to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity read more
May 21, 2012 - Atchison
Port Aransas Man Gets Federal Time for Possession of Child Pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Scott Randall Atchison, 50, of Port Aransas, Texas, has landed in federal prison for possession of child pornography read more
May 21, 2012 - Segovia et al
14 Land Significant Time in Federal Prison in “Operation Havoc”
Organizer Gets Nearly 34 Years
LAREDO, Texas – After a lengthy day of hearings before visiting U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood, 14 convicted drug traffickers and/or money launderers have now been sentenced to federal prison, some to significant terms read more
May 21, 2012 - Palacios
San Antonio Man Arrested for Wire Fraud Related to Theft From Border Patrol Union
LAREDO, Texas – Pedro Palacios, 36, of San Antonio, Texas, has been arrested on charges of wire fraud arising from his alleged theft of blank checks from the Border Patrol Union Council (BPUC) Local 2455 read more
May 21, 2012 - Boyso-Gutierrez
Meth Trafficker Gets Hefty Federal Sentence
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Fidel Elfego Boyso-Gutierrez, 53, of Houston, has been sentenced to 292 months for possession with intent to distribute approximately 4.26 kilograms of methamphetamine read more
May 18, 2012 - ABC Trees
Houston-based Company Admits to Hiring Illegal Aliens
Agrees to Forfeit $2 Million
HOUSTON - ABC Professional Tree Services Inc. (ABC) has agreed to adhere to revised immigration compliance procedures and to pay $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security related to revenue derived from the employment of illegal aliens read more
May 18, 2012 - Herrod
Bank Supervisor Convicted of Embezzling Funds
HOUSTON - Rebecca A. Herrod, 56, of Shepard, Texas, has just entered a guilty plea to embezzlement read more
May 18, 2012 - Trevino and Coronado
Two Area Men Sentenced for Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking
McALLEN, Texas – Lauro Arturo Treviño Sr. and Roberto Lee Coronado have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large scale drug trafficking organization operating out of Starr County, Texas read more
May 17, 2012 - Mathew
Illegal Possession of Bald Eagle Leads to Return of Federal Indictment
VICTORIA, Texas - Sam Mathew, 53, of Missouri City, Texas, has been indicted by a federal grand jury of illegally possessing a bald eagle read more
May 17, 2012 - Sandoval
Former La Villa Corrections Officer Indicted for Smuggling Cell Phone to Federal Inmate
McALLEN, Texas - Jorge Luis Sandoval, 21, of Pharr, Texas, has been arrested on a bribery charge for smuggling a cellular phone into the East Hildago Detention Center located in La Villa, Texas read more
May 16, 2012 - Eyerly
Former Conroe Resident Convicted of Conspiracy to Produce Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Matthew David Eyerly, 35, has entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography read more
May 16, 2012 - Dang
Katy Grow House Leads to Nearly 12-Year Prison Sentence
HOUSTON - An illegal alien from Vietnam has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for his role in a criminal enterprise involving the growth and marketing of hydroponic marijuana read more
May 16, 2012 - Morales-Ryan and Garcia-Morales
Local Dentist/Orthodontist Couple Convicted of Making False Statements on Bills to Texas Medicaid
LAREDO, Texas - Local dentist Dr. Carlos Armin Morales-Ryan, 45, and his wife local orthodontist Dr. Nelia Patricia Garcia-Morales, 42, have pleaded guilty to a criminal information admitting they made false statements on bills to Texas Medicaid read more
May 15, 2012 - Ortiz-Soto and Salas-Gardunio
Operators of "Welcome to Hell" Stash House Indicted
McALLEN, Texas - Vicente Ortiz-Soto and Marcial Salas-Gardunio, both 23 and Mexican nationals, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to harbor aliens and alien harboring read more
May 15, 2012 - Guerrero et al
Five Convicted for Falsifying Assault Rifle Purchases
LAREDO, Texas – Five Laredo residents have entered pleas of guilty for making a false statement on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) forms 4473 in the acquisition of firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFL) read more
May 14, 2012 - Perez
Bishop Man Sentenced for Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Mercedes Perez, 55, of Bishop, Texas, has been handed a 151-month federal prison sentence following his convictions for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin read more
May 14, 2012 - Garcia-Perguero and Rodriguez-Olivio
Mexican Couple Convicted of Transporting Huge Stash of Ammunition
LAREDO, Texas – Abraham Garcia-Perguero, 35, and Maria Isabel Rodriguez-Olivio, 33, both undocumented Mexican aliens living in Laredo, Texas, have pleaded guilty to being in possession of 27,000 rounds of ammunition read more
May 14, 2012 - Giventer and Shavabskaya
South Texas Couple Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud
HOUSTON - Michael Giventer, 53, formerly of Brownsville, Texas, has just pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud read more
May 9, 2012 - Morales et al
Several Area Men Arrested in Cocaine and Money Laundering Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – A total of seven men have been taken into custody on charges related to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering read more
May 8, 2012 - Hawkins et al
Six Charged in Cocaine Distribution Investigation
HOUSTON – Six individuals have been taken into custody following the return of an indictment alleging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine read more
May 7, 2012 - Demmon
Retired Federal Park Ranger Gets 15 Years for Child Pornography Distribution
HOUSTON - Douglas Crockwell Demmon, 65, a retired federal park ranger living in Galveston, Texas, has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison read more
May 7, 2012 - Dinkins
Conroe Man Charged With Disaster Fraud
HOUSTON – James Warren Dinkins, 64, of Conroe, Texas, has been indicted for conspiring to obtain approximately $120,000 in disaster relief funds by fraudulent means and for making false statements in connection with a benefit authorized pursuant to a presidentially declared disaster declaration read more
May 3, 2012 - Luna
Second Man Arrested for Valero Refinery Bomb Threats
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Erasmo Luna, 26, of Robstown has been arrested following the return of a federal indictment charging him with two counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence read more
May 2, 2012 - Mose-Burrel
Bank Employee Convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and ID Theft
HOUSTON - Jamal Gerard Mose-Burrel, 22, of Houston, has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
May 2, 2012 - Avila
Houston Man Handed Federal Sentence for Possession of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Armando Ruben Avila, 48, has been sentenced to 65 months imprisonment for possession of child pornography read more
May 1, 2012 - Alvarez-Soria
Undocumented Alien Guilty of Trafficking Methamphetamine
HOUSTON – Enrique Alvaraez-Soria, 41, has pleaded guilty to his role in two separate incidents of trafficking large-scale amounts of methamphetamine read more
May 1, 2012 - Hernandez
Local Man Handed Federal Sentence for Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Judge Orders Nearly $20k in Restitution
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - David Hernandez, 29, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison following his conviction for production of child pornography read more
